Second woman — a known trick roll prostitute — arrested in Strip robbery, shooting

By Brian Nordli

Monday, Sept. 9, 2013 | 4:43 p.m.

Deonna Hicks lured the man into the car with the promise of oral sex and a ride from Mandalay Bay to the Bellagio. Two other women waited in the car.

The job was to be a simple pickpocket. Yet, as they pulled his pants off and stole his wallet, Bassam Batta caught on. The ride spiraled into a chaos of pushing, kicking and flying clothing. One of the women yelled, “Get the gun,” and the ride ended with Batta sprinting from the car at Treasure Island with one shoe on and a woman shooting at him.

These were the details outlined in a Metro Police arrest report for Nataka Hines in connection with the July 27 incident. Hines, 26, was arrested Saturday. Hicks, 24, was arrested in August.

Hines, who Metro said is a known trick-roll prostitute, was arrested on counts of attempted murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, battery with intent to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Trick-rolling, Metro said in the report, is where a prostitute robs or steals from a client who has agreed to pay for sexual favors.

The report indicates the following:

Earlier on July 27, Batta lost his friends at a Mandalay Bay restaurant and was looking for a ride when a woman he later identified as Hicks approached him with the offer.

During the course of the ride, two other women in the car attempted to completely pull off Batta's pants. He stopped them, but as he pulled his pants back on, he noticed his wallet was missing. When he confronted the women, they began yelling and kicking Batta. Then one of the women yelled: “Get the gun.”

Batta said he attempted to get out of the car while it was traveling through the valet area of Treasure Island, but the women continued to grab and kick him. When the car stopped, Batta ran and the women fired one shot in his direction.

Batta reported his stolen wallet, which contained about $600, credit cards and a driver’s license, to Metro.

Officers investigated the report and discovered the car used in the incident belonged to Hicks. When officers arrested Hicks for her active warrants, she yelled, “Ya’ll ain’t going to find that gun,” before the officers mentioned the robbery.

Hicks was arrested on counts of attempted murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, battery to commit mayhem robbery or grand larceny, conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm within a structure, vehicle or prohibited area.

She later told police she had been in the car with two other women identified as “Bree” and “Taki” as they robbed Batta. In a search warrant of Hicks’ phone, officers also discovered she was linked with Hines, whose nickname is “Taki,” through pictures on her phone.

Officers arrested Hines at 1 a.m. Saturday outside the Four Queens.